摔碎瑶琴凤尾寒，(A)
子期不在对谁弹！(A)
春风满面皆朋友，(B)
欲觅知音难上难。(A)
“凤尾”是指摇琴的末端。因为知音已经不在，不再弹琴了，所以用“寒”来寓意冷落、凄凉，与及那种孤寂寞。
Breaking the zither and no more playing;
Without Ziqi, who would be appreciating.
Like spring breeze, friends could be many,
Another true appreciator can't be expecting.
I am crushing my musical instruments, because Ziqi is no longer alive, and who can I play music for?
It seems that I have many happy friends， but to find someone who can truly appreciate my music is almost an impossible mission。
“摔碎瑶琴凤尾寒，子期不在对谁弹！春风满面皆朋友，欲觅知音难上难。”
子期都不在了，还对谁弹琴呢，朋友虽多，知音能有几人
摔碎瑶琴凤尾寒，
子期不在对谁弹！
春风满面皆朋友，
欲觅知音难上难。
I broke the jade zither with a sinking heart;
Ziqi being deceased, for whom I'll play happy as a lark?
Friends and acquaintances beaming with laugh,
Among them none doth know my noble art!
